Oklahoma Sooners Hire Arkansas State’s Dreiling to Strengthen Defense…

Oklahoma is expected to hire Arkansas State’s Nate Dreiling as its next defensive coordinator, per multiple reports.

Dreiling was announced as Arkansas State’s next defensive coordinator on Feb. 3. He spent the 2024 season as the Utah State interim head coach during a 4-8 campaign that included three wins over the Aggies’ last four games.

The 34-year-old from Victoria, Kansas will take over in place of former OU defensive coordinator Zac Alley, who left the school for the same role at West Virginia.

On3 and SoonerScoop first reported on Friday that Dreiling was hired to coach linebackers, while head coach Brent Venables will call the Sooners’ defense.

Oklahoma ranked 29th in total defense, 43rd in passing defense, 24th in rushing defense, 36th in turnovers forced per game and 29th in scoring defense.

Before arriving at Utah State, Dreiling spent two seasons at New Mexico State. In his final season the school posted a 10-win season for just the second time in New Mexico State history and an appearance in the Conference USA title game.

They ranked 44th in scoring defense, 48th in rushing defense and were second nationally in red zone defense. In his first season he turned a defense that ranked 127th in total defense the year before his arrival and finished the season 29th nationally, allowing 336.3 yards per game.

Dreiling played at Pittsburgh State and was signed by the Packers in 2014 as an undrafted free agent.